Pro-Palestine protesters storm UK drone factory and brand PM 'a war criminal'
Pro-Palestine protesters have stormed a drone factory in Leicester, drenching it in red paint, setting off flares and ramming a van through its gates.
Police raced to the scene this morning, where activists were seen waving flags and banners reading 'Shut Elbit Down' while stood atop a vehicle. The UAV Tactical Systems factory, which is owned by Elbit Systems UK, has long been targeted by protests calling for its closure.
There was an attempted siege of the factory back in May, with demonstrators vowing to "stay put for weeks on end, through day and night, refusing to leave until Elbit does". Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for the latest protest, which comes a day after hundreds of people were killed in an explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital.
Protesters at the UAV Tactical Systems factory this morningSharing footage of the demo to Twitter, the group wrote: "Within 12 hours of Israel massacring patients and doctors at Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, we shut down Israel's military drone factory. Israel used drones for last night's massacre. Drones produced in the UK. This must end! 'Rishi Sunak is a war criminal!'"
The Hamas militant group has blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military blamed a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants, releasing audio of what it claimed to be Hamas discussing the attack. In a further tweet, Palestine Action said: "Elbit's Leicester factory ships £millions of military drones to Israel - 'Hermes' drones, used to drop bombs and to target missile strikes.
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"The Al-Ahli massacre shows what Israel does with such arms. Elbit cannot, and will not, be allowed to operate here." Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Elbit Systems said it "does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli Ministry of Defence", adding: "Any claims to the contrary are completely false."
Activists were seen waving flags and banners reading 'Shut Elbit Down'Leicestershire Police officers were called to the protest at around 7.50am, and remain at the scene with road closures in place, reports Leicestershire Live. A force spokesperson said: "Police were called at approximately 7.50am today (October 18) to reports of a vehicle attempting to gain access to business premises.
"A vehicle driven by protesters is believed to have breached the gate, causing criminal damage to the surrounding area and other vehicles. Protesters remain on top of the vehicle and police are engaging with them to bring the incident to a safe close. We have commenced an investigation into what has happened and will be identifying and arresting those who have broken the law.
"Road closures are in place and there will be some disruption to local businesses whilst this matter is brought to a conclusion. Leicestershire Police support the right to protest peacefully but will take action against those who seek to commit crime. A policing plan is in place and officers remain at the location."
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